If you're investing time and money into IT certifications, you want to know one thing: what's the return? Here are the most in-demand certifications in 2026, what they pay, and the fastest path to earning them.
The Top-Paying IT Certifications in 2026
Average Salary by Certification
The Fastest Path to Certification
The common mistake is spending 3–6 months watching video courses, then cramming for the exam in the last week. A more effective approach:
- Take a Skill IQ assessment to benchmark your starting point. Know where your gaps are before you start studying.
- Use hands-on labs as your primary study method. PBQs that mirror exam scenarios build the skills the exam actually tests.
- Take timed practice exams weekly. Track your scores by domain. Focus your remaining study time on your weakest areas.
- Target 85%+ on practice exams before booking your real exam.
Most learners using this approach can go from zero to certified in 8–14 weeks for entry-level certs (Security+, Network+, A+) and 12–20 weeks for advanced certs (CISSP, CySA+, AWS SA).
Where to Train
Pluralsight ($299–$499/year) has the widest course library but is video-first. CBT Nuggets (~$599/year) has excellent instructors. Cybrary ($708/year) specializes in cybersecurity.
CertLabz ($240/year, All Access) is the only platform where PBQs and hands-on labs are the primary learning method, with 5,000+ questions across 50+ cert tracks, unlimited practice exams, Skill IQ assessments, instant validation, and verifiable digital certificates with CPE credits included. Those CPE credits also count toward renewing existing certifications — so your training investment serves double duty. It's also the most affordable option.
The ROI Math
Security+ costs ~$392 to take. Average salary increase after certification: $8,000–$15,000/year. Training cost on CertLabz: $240/year. That's a 3,000–6,000% ROI in year one alone. The question isn't whether you can afford to get certified — it's whether you can afford not to.
These salary figures come from aggregated data across Glassdoor, PayScale, LinkedIn Salary Insights, and the Robert Half Technology Salary Guide for 2026. Actual salaries vary by location, experience, and employer — but the trend is clear: certified professionals consistently earn 15-25% more than their non-certified peers in the same roles.
It's also worth noting that many of these certifications stack. A professional with Security+ AND AWS Solutions Architect is significantly more valuable than someone with either alone. The CompTIA "trifecta" (A+, Network+, Security+) is the most common entry path, typically taking 6-9 months of focused study to complete all three.
For career changers, the math is especially compelling. A $240/year training investment plus a $392 exam fee can result in a $20,000+ salary increase — in many cases within months of passing the exam. No other professional development investment offers this kind of return.